CHRIS WILDER has sought to draw a line under a difficult week by insisting he remains “fully committed” to Middlesbrough and is “all in” when it comes to driving the club forward over the next few years.

A tumultuous seven days have seen Wilder strongly linked with a possible move to Burnley to replace Sean Dyche, and the speculation only intensified when the Boro boss refused to rule himself out of the running for a move to Turf Moor in the wake of last week’s matches against Bournemouth and Huddersfield.

Wilder met Steve Gibson face-to-face yesterday, before having a meal with the Boro chairman, chief executive Neil Bausor and head of football Kieran Scott last night, and the subject of Wilder’s long-term future and potential interest in Burnley was discussed.

Wilder reassured Gibson he remains fully committed to leading Middlesbrough back into the Premier League, and spelled out his position in unequivocal terms this morning.

Wilder said: “I want to work in the Premier League, but I want to work in the Premier League with Middlesbrough. That’s the be all and end all.

“I’ve got ambitions to work at the highest level – I think anybody who does anything with any trade wants to work at the highest level – but there’s been no contact (with Burnley).

“I had a fabulous meeting with the chairman yesterday, for over two, two-and-half, three hours, and then we went out for something to eat.

“I’m fully committed. If he gets a phone call, if I get a phone call, we’ve got an open and transparent relationship where we speak to each other all the time.

“I’m ambitious, but I’m ambitious with Middlesbrough and I want us to get into the Premier League. We’re making plans. We’re making plans to transform this place (Rockliffe Park training ground) a bit. There’s plans I’ve encouraged or asked to do.

“There’s medium and long-term plans, and we talked about players for next year. This is still a big rebuild. Our season is not dead and buried, but this has shown there’s a lot of work still to be done, in recruitment and how I want it to look going forward.”

Wilder admitted he did not necessarily handle previous questions about Burnley as well as he might have, but maintains he was never interested in leaving Boro. Instead, he insists he is determined to enjoy further success with the club, having joined as Neil Warnock’s replacement last November.

Wilder said: “A lot of things get chucked at you after a game, and sometimes it’s not the easiest time to speak to a manager. I’m not saying I get it right all the time as well.

“But I’ve spoken to the owner and we’re all on the same page. I think if you look at my past track record and the longevity I’ve had at every football club, I don’t jump in and out of clubs.

“Speculation comes because the team is doing well, or the team has maybe done better than it has in the past. We all have to handle that and embrace it, and say it’s a decent thing because we’re winning games of football.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s head down. I’m all in. Anybody who knows me and my attitude to a football club knows I’m all in until I’m told I’m not all in. And I’m all in.

“If anybody’s looking for an excuse for what’s gone off over the last two games, then there’s no excuse. We're working away.

“I’m here, I’m enjoying my football, and I’m enjoying working for a wonderful, fabulous football club. We’ve had some great times so far over the last four or five months, and I’m looking forward to some more good times in my period here.”